Resources This section aims to assist English teachers in finding effective resources to use in order to plan learning experiences for creative writing units. In particular, you will find resources specific to narrative structure, point of view, characterisation, vivid language, figurative language (similes) and narrative hook. Narrative Structure:
This website contains three activities to get students from year nine to year twelve thinking about point of view in creative writing. The first activity requires students to write in first person about a special event in their lives from their own point of view, and then write about the same event in third person and then compare the two. The second activity requires students to write about a driving test from their own, their parents and the driving instructor's point of view and then compare the three. The third activity asks students to write from the point of view of a non-human character, such as a plant or animal and think about the effects this has. Figurative Language and Vivid Language:
This interactive learning tool informs students about similes and how they are used to create images in writing. It then allows students to create their very own 'dream machine' and asks them to describe it using similes. For instance if their dream machine has wobbly wheels, it asks the student to finish the sentence: 'My dream machine has wobbly wheels like _'. This is a great resource to get students interested in figurative language as well as develop their ICT skills. Characterisation:
ArtsEdge Kennedy Centre - Methods of Characterisation
This is a great worksheet for students to create character profiles for the characters they intend to use in their short story. It allows students to think about the characters' appearance, speech, behaviour, thoughts, feelings and the reactions other characters have about them.
Essortment - Create Interesting and Believable Fictional Characters
This site provides six steps to create a character profile. Each step suggests an activity to develop each section of the character profile. It allows students to think about physical features, personality traits, speech patterns, and distinguishing features to help them create believable characters for their own short story.
Narrative Hook:
Lucy English - Alone on a Wide Sea: Teacher's Resource This PDF file is of great use to introduce students to the narrative hook. In particular worksheets 3 and 4 on page 11 and 12. Worksheet 3 informs students of the different kinds of narrative hook and provides examples which the students have to match up with each definition. Worksheet 4 then requires students to have a go at creating their own example of each kind of narrative hook.
Learn NC - Getting Hooked: Introduction for a Narrative This website provides a great lesson plan with endless activities that involve narrative introductions that 'hook' the reader. It provides the learning outcomes, materials and resources required for the lesson, activities as well as assessment of the outcomes.
This section aims to assist English teachers in finding effective resources to use in order to plan learning experiences for creative writing units. In particular, you will find resources specific to narrative structure, point of view, characterisation, vivid language, figurative language (similes) and narrative hook.
Narrative Structure:
This website contains a lesson plan for introducing students to the elements of narrative structure. It includes the professional standards that the lesson plan aligns with, as well as resources and preparation and an instructional plan. In particular, it features a great resource, entitled 'Plot Structure Graphic Organiser' (pictured below).
Point of View:
- Art's Edge Kennedy Centre - Point of View Activities
This website contains three activities to get students from year nine to year twelve thinking about point of view in creative writing. The first activity requires students to write in first person about a special event in their lives from their own point of view, and then write about the same event in third person and then compare the two. The second activity requires students to write about a driving test from their own, their parents and the driving instructor's point of view and then compare the three. The third activity asks students to write from the point of view of a non-human character, such as a plant or animal and think about the effects this has.Figurative Language and Vivid Language:
- Learning Federation - Dream Machine: Similes
This interactive learning tool informs students about similes and how they are used to create images in writing. It then allows students to create their very own 'dream machine' and asks them to describe it using similes. For instance if their dream machine has wobbly wheels, it asks the student to finish the sentence: 'My dream machine has wobbly wheels like _'. This is a great resource to get students interested in figurative language as well as develop their ICT skills.Characterisation:
- ArtsEdge Kennedy Centre - Methods of Characterisation
- Essortment - Create Interesting and Believable Fictional Characters
Narrative Hook:This is a great worksheet for students to create character profiles for the characters they intend to use in their short story. It allows students to think about the characters' appearance, speech, behaviour, thoughts, feelings and the reactions other characters have about them.
This site provides six steps to create a character profile. Each step suggests an activity to develop each section of the character profile. It allows students to think about physical features, personality traits, speech patterns, and distinguishing features to help them create believable characters for their own short story.
This PDF file is of great use to introduce students to the narrative hook. In particular worksheets 3 and 4 on page 11 and 12. Worksheet 3 informs students of the different kinds of narrative hook and provides examples which the students have to match up with each definition. Worksheet 4 then requires students to have a go at creating their own example of each kind of narrative hook.
This website provides a great lesson plan with endless activities that involve narrative introductions that 'hook' the reader. It provides the learning outcomes, materials and resources required for the lesson, activities as well as assessment of the outcomes.